Tom Sweetman

Listed in the history books as Tom Sweetman, this foundation Blue’s true identity was Charles Herbert Sweatman, a discrepancy stemming from a lingering clerical error in the league's early records. Recruited from Ascot Vale, he was selected for Carlton’s inaugural VFL match against Fitzroy in 1897 and became a consistent performer across the competition's first three seasons. A versatile utility who typically alternated between half-back and half-forward, he offered flexibility to a developing Carlton lineup that often struggled against established powerhouses. Following his 30-game stint at Princes Park, he transferred to Essendon Town in the VFA and later continued his career in the Western Australian Goldfields with Boulder City. His career remains a significant point of interest for football historians, serving as both a pioneering chapter in Carlton's history and a famous example of the record-keeping anomalies of the era.